Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Tennis Letter

@thetennisletter.bsky.social

11K followers 0 following 5.2K posts

Want to know the 411 & keep up with all the hot gossip? Look no further. ATP/WTA news, history & memes. 200K+ on X. Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2363472 Free Weekly Newsletter: https://thetennisletter.substack.com/

www.buzzsprout.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · Mar 9

1 15

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 2h

Meddy reaching semis in Beijing and Shanghai we were right there man

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 2h

Rinderknech hitting the Spidey squat

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 2h

Rinderknech spoke beautifully about him and his cousin Vacherot reaching the Shanghai final

“The finalist you’re playing tomorrow is your cousin. What does it mean to you? Is this all part of some crazy tennis dream?”

Arthur: “I don’t know. In the best dreams we couldn’t have dreamt about this.”🥹

5 34

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 2h

Valentin Vacherot hugs his cousin Arthur Rinderknech after he beat Medvedev to reach the Shanghai final

Right after the biggest win of his life, he stayed to watch Arthur achieve the biggest moment of his own life

Both having the week of their lives

Both peaking at the same time

A family thing 🥹

14 57

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 3h

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will face each other in the final of Wuhan.

Pegula leads the head to head 4-2 and has won 3 of their last 4 meetings.

They haven't played this season.

All American showdown.

Who wins the title? 🏆

3 3 45

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 3h

Jessica Pegula d. Sabalenka 2-6 6-4 7-6

Down 2-5 in the 3rd.

Pegula becomes the only player to beat Aryna in Wuhan, snapping her 20 match win streak.

She also snaps Aryna’s streak of 19 consecutive tiebreaks won.

Into her 6th final of 2025.

✅20th final
✅24th top 10 win

Massive win. 🇺🇸

1 3 44

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 4h

Novak Djokovic did not want to speak about his physical issues after his loss to Vacherot:

‘I want to congratulate Valentin… Going from qualifications, it's an amazing story… it’s all about him’

(via Shanghai Press)

4 2 30

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 4h

Coco Gauff becomes the youngest woman in history to reach both the Beijing final and the Wuhan final.

21 years old & getting stronger every year.

🇺🇸❤️

2 64

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

Novak Djokovic and Valentin Vacherot had a beautiful moment at the net after their match in Shanghai

Novak: "You deserve it. You played unbelievable. Keep it going."

Valentin: "Such a pleasure to play at least once against you. Don't retire." 🥹

2 24

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

Valentin Vacherot after beating Djokovic in Shanghai to become lowest ranked man in history to reach a Masters final

“I just wanna say thank you to everyone who put a little brick into my career, because they taught me how to be down on earth and to fight. This is probably why I’m here today.” 🥹

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

Coco Gauff after beating Jasmine Paolini to reach Wuhan final

“Jasmine was leading 3-0 in the head to head record. How happy are you to win this high intensity match?”

Coco: “Well it’s just 3-0 this year… I think it’s even now” 😭😭😭

3 17

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

Valentin Vacherot after beating Novak Djokovic to reach Shanghai final:

"Just to be on the other side of the court was already an unbelievable experience. I've got so much to learn from this match... from him. Even from myself, I've got a lot to give." 🥹

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

The moment Valentin Vacherot beat Novak Djokovic to reach the Shanghai final

World #204 becomes the lowest ranked player EVER to reach a Masters final

The first player from Monaco to reach a Masters final

It’s his fairytale, we’re just living in it 🥹

5 56

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

Novak Djokovic to Valentin Vacherot at the net:

"You deserve it."

1 20

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

Gauff d. Paolini 6-4 6-3

Coco reaches her first Wuhan final.

Into her 3rd WTA 1000 final of the season.

She was 0-3 against Jasmine this year, but found a way to turn the tide.

✅14th final
✅4th final of 2025
✅31st top 10 win

Recharged.

🇺🇸❤️

2 24

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

Vacherot d. Djokovic 6-3 6-4

So let me get this straight…

His first top 10 win ever is against a 24-time Grand Slam Champ.

His first tour-level final ever is a Masters 1000.

✅1st player from Monaco to reach a Masters final

Ranked #204 in the world.

Everything he does is BIG.

🇲🇨

3 3 33

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 22h

Aryna Sabalenka will end the year as the world #1 for the 2nd year in a row.

So unbelievably consistent all season long.

Simply the most dominant force in women’s tennis right now.

🐅

2 3 61

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Aryna Sabalenka becomes the 4th woman to win her 1st 20 matches at a single WTA tournament since 1990.

Monica Seles at Australian Open: 33-0.

Steffi Graf in Leipzig: 25-0.

Caroline Wozniacki in New Haven: 20-0.

𝐀𝐫𝐲𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐤𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐧: 𝟐𝟎-𝟎.

Dominant. 🐅

1 38

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Aryna Sabalenka had kind words for Elena Rybakina after beating her in Wuhan

“She’s a great player. Very nice girl. Always tough to play against. We have a really huge history against each other. Always great battles. Always exciting playing her. She always pushes me to the limit to get the win.”❤️

1 21

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Sabalenka after beating Rybakina to get 20th straight win in Wuhan

“You’ve never lost a match here. Won 3 titles. How do you explain that incredible record?”

Aryna: “I feel a really great connection with the Chinese fans I guess. I feel at home every time playing here. Honestly that’s just crazy”😂

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Sabalenka d. Elena Rybakina 6-3 6-3

Some spectacular tennis from Aryna.

She remains undefeated in Wuhan:

20 wins, 0 losses… absolutely unreal.

Into her 4th Wuhan SF.

She literally does not lose at this event.

✅11th SF of 2025
✅59th win of 2025

Queen of Wuhan ruling with an iron fist.

🐅

2 18

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 2d

Players to reach 25 WTA 1000 quarterfinals in the fewest main draw appearances in history.

1. Serena Williams - 32.

2. Maria Sharapova - 39.

3. Iga Swiatek - 41.

Powerful list.

🇵🇱❤️

5 47

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 2d

Iga Swiatek becomes the 9th player to reach the QF or better of all 10 WTA 1000 tournaments.

Simona Halep.
Angelique Kerber.
Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Petra Kvitova.
Agnieszka Radwanska.
Elena Rybakina.
Aryna Sabalenka.
Carolina Wozniacki.
𝐈𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐤.

Huge. 🇵🇱❤️

3 22

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 2d

Iga Swiatek on facing Jasmine Paolini next in Wuhan:

“She’s a really tough opponent. We already played a final this year. So I know she can play amazing tennis. She’s a fighter. She never gives up. I’ll just prepare and I’ll be ready.”

1 24

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 2d

Iga Swiatek on beating Bencic to reach 1st Wuhan QF

“I wanted to play with confidence & make brave decisions. Against Belinda you can’t let her dictate. Every game was tough. That’s why it was over 2 hours for 2 sets. I’m happy I was there in the deciding moments to be solid and play one more shot”